Packing



March 2, 1937. Y v J. 1 CRANE 2,072,543

PACKING I Filed Jan. 2, 1932 Patented Mar. 2, 1.937

PATENT OFFICE PACKING John T. Crane, Maywood, Ill., assignor to FeltProducts Mfg. Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of 'Illinois ApplicationVJanuary 2, 1932, serial No. 584,541

Claims.

'This invention relates to improvements in packing, and has particularrelation to a :duidtight packing such as is used in pumps and the like.

5 The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved form ofpacking consisting of a core of fibrous material, or the like, and anouter covering of metallic foil folded around said core.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a l5 machine formanufacturing a packing material embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse'sectional view, on an enlarged scale,taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary'transverse sectional view, on` an enlargedscale, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. t is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, una still largerscale, taken on the line 4 4 ofi'g. 1;

Fig. 5 is a. stillfurther enlarged transverse sectional and perspectiveview of a completed section of packing embodying the invention; and

Fig. 6 is aperspective view of a completed "50 packing member embodyingthe invention and formed into 'a'rlng such as is suitable for use in thepacking glands of pumps and the like.

The construction and operation of a machine adapted to make a packingmaterial embodying the present invention are illustrated and describedherein to a limited extent only, to assist in providing a full and clearunderstanding of the nature and form of such packing material. 'I'hesaid machine constitutes the subject matter 40 of my co-pendingapplication, Serial No. 656,961,

filed February 15, 1933, as a division of the instant application.

Referring to the drawing, the packing material `embodying the inventionis preferably made by 45 means of a machine such as that illustrated inpart in Fig. 1, comprising a stationary folding member 48. 'Ihe packingmaterial comprises a core 5| of fibrous material or the like and aplurality of thicknesses of metallic foil 54 which are foldedaround saidcore member. The folding operation is accomplished by drawing the corematerial 5| and the metallic foil 54 through the said folding device 48-by suitable draw-feeding means or the like (not shown). Thecorematerial is in rope form and the metallic foil in strip form of theproper width toy envelop the corre fully, as hereinafter shown ingreater detail. Both the core and covering materials are sup-y plied tothe machine in extended lengths from suitable spools, reels or the like(not shown) and rthe machine operation is a continuous process.

Any desired number of thicknesses of the ,foil 54 may be used and one ormore of the foil strips are preferably drawn through a supply ofgraphite solution or other suitable lubricating material.

The foil strips 54 are drawn between upright vertical guides 65, andthen between horizontal rollers 66, 66 all of which are supported from astationary base or the like. After passing between the rollers 66, 66the foil strips are drawn along a. flat table-like member 61 betweenadjustable edge guiding strips 68, 68 and thence into the foldingmember4B. The members 61 and 68 are carried by suitable stationary supportsand it is through the member-61 that the folding member 48 is supported.'Ihe core material 5l is drawn over a grooved wheel 69 which is looselyand pivotally supported by a pin 10 carried by a small pedestal member1I which is also secured to a vixed support. 'I'his core material isthen drawn through a slot in a stationary guiding member 13 which iscarried by the supporting member for the rollers 66, 66 and thencethrough the grooved end of an offset guiding member 14 carried by one ofthe edge guiding strips 68 for the foil strips 54. 'Ihe somewhatcircuitous path through which the core material 5| is drawn in thismanner provides the necessary friction for preventing excessive slack inthe ma.- terial as it enters the machine.

As the core lmaterial 5| and the covering strips 54 of metallic foil aredrawn through the fold- Y driven to assist in -the feeding of thematerial,

as disclosedv in myaforesaid co-pending application. Thepacking materialis thus shaped andA compacted as desired. It may also bev coiled up inspiral coils of any desired length and such ceiling may be accomplishedeither in the form- `ing member 48, the covering strips are graduallyvformed around the core, three successive stages..

ing machine or by separate means. Such coiling means may be utilized tofeed or assist in the feeding of the material through the formingmachine.

5 When the packing material is thus coiled up, it may be cut up intosections of one or more turns each for formation into rings of thedesired axial length. The cross-sectional appearance of the material asit leaves the machine is indicated in Fig. 5, which illustrates themanner in which the metallic foil strips 54 have been folded around thecore 5| and the latter formed and compressed to produce a packingmaterial of the desired size and shape. This view also shows ,l5 inperspective the manner in which the outer edges 0f the foil strips 54are disposed on the outside of the completed packing material, theseedges extending longitudinally of the material and substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The coils of material ofthis size and shape may then be additionally formed and compressed bypunch dies to obtain the exact dimensions and shapes required. Acompleted ring which has been finally formed in this manner isillustrated in Fig. 6. As shown in this figure, the rings may be formed'with tapered or other surfaces to fit any desired type of packing glandsor the like. Due to the nature of the core material 5I and that of thethin metallic foil covering 54, the packing material is susceptible offormation into any desired shape and the completed rings are of suchnature that they may be used to form absolutely fluid-tight joints inany desired type of construction. The material has the advantages ofboth fibrous and metallic packings and many of the disadvantages ofthese two types are not encountered. The material is substantiallyimpregnated with the graphite solution or other lubricating mediumthrough which one or more of the strips of the foil covering are drawnin the manner hereinbefore described. 'Iight joints may therefore beprovided without involving any substantial friction between rotatingparts and the like. The material used for the core of the packing ofthis type may be relatively inexpensive, as it is fully protected by itsmetallic covering. It is well known that fibrous materials deterioraterapidly when they come in contact with various liquids, acids, vapors,etc., but these disadvantages are eliminated in the packingof thepresent invention because the fibrous core is protected by the metalliccovering.

For ordinary uses the core material may be any inexpensive brousmaterial, `such as cotton, hemp, jute, felt, etc., and the metalliccovering of the packing may be formed of lead foil. For high temperatureservice non-burning materials may be used, such as asbestos for the coreand a covering of aluminum foil or the like.

Packing material made according to the present invention is particularlyadvantageous in that it provides an exceptionally good wearing surfaceto be placed in contact with moving parts such as rotating shafts,reciprocating rods and the like.v The formation of the packing with thefoil covering longitudinally folded around the same produces a materialin which the edges of the foil strips are exposed along only certainlines extending longitudinally of the packing strip, and when thepacking material is put into use it is naturally so placed that theseedges are out of contact with any moving parts. The .foil surfaces whichare placed in contact with u the moving parts areunbroken and afford noopportunity for the foil to flake oif or become mutilated in any othermanner. Therefore, the material gives better results in service and hasa longer life than packing materials of the prior art which do notembody these advantages.

Such advantages will be particularly noticed when the packing materialmade in accordance with the present invention is compared with prior artmaterials in which a. covering of metallic foil or the like is appliedin the form of spirally or helically wound strips. In the latter type ofmaterials the edges of the foil covering are exposed on all sides of thepacking materialshortening its life, but often produces injurious eectson other parts of the machinery in which such packing glands are used.It has been found by actual experience that particles of foil which arebroken off when using packing materials with spirally wound coveringsfind their way into valves and other parts of the machinery, wheredeleterious effects are caused thereby.

'Ihese effects are eliminated by the use of the packing material of thepresent invention, which presents unbroken surfaces of foil to themoving parts, as above explained. It will be apparent also that thepresent type of packing is superior to those of the prior art in thatleakage is more readily prevented thereby, due to the truer wearingsurface presented toward the moving parts in packing glands.

'I'he method of making packing material according to the presentinvention is also highly advantageous over prior art methods by reasonof the fact that the material 'may be produced more rapidly andconsequently at less expense.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present inventionprovides animproved type of packing material, and that an advantageous andeconomical method of making the same has been fully disclosed.

While only certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shownand described herein, it will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications in the details ofconstruction-and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by Letters Patent,therefore, is:

1. A packing material comprising a core consisting substantiallyentirely of fibrous material, and a covering of metallic foil extendingsubstantially parallel to said core and. entirely enveloping the same insubstantially uniform folds all following the contour of said core, theedges of said covering extending longitudinally and parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said core and overlapping each other.

2. A packing material comprising a heat-resistant fibrous core and ametallic foil covering 3. A packing material comprising a brous core anda lead foil covering therefor extending substantially parallel to saidcore and entirely enveloping the same, the edges of said coveringextending longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of saidcore.

'4. A packing material comprising an asbestos core and an aluminum foilcovering therefor extending substantially parallel to said'core and loentirely enveloping the same, the edges of said covering extendinglongitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said core.

5. A packing material comprising a fibrous core and a plurality ofstrips of metallic foil covering therefor extending substantiallyparallel to said core and entirelyenveloping the same, the edges of saidcovering extending longitudinally and parallel to the longitudinal axisof said core.

JOHN T. CRANE.

